United Nations Nations Unies

United Nations Mission in Sudan

A brief risk assessment of Raga County, Western Bahr el-Ghazal State

Introduction
UNMIS sponsored a visit by a delegation from the Government of Western Bahr el-
Ghazal State to Raga, Raga County between Thursday 19 June and Monday 23 June
2008. The delegation was led by the Governor of the State, H.E. Mark Nyipuoc Ubang.
The objectives of the mission were to assess the current state of security in the region and
to settle some outstanding administrative issue for the County, which might have some
implications on security. UNMIS will engage with the Governor and his delegation on his
return in order to obtain updates on the security and administration of the County and to
coordinate on any issues of mutual concern regarding the safety and security of Raga
County communities and UNMIS and other international community staff stationed in
the County.

UNMIS Sector II is currently reviewing security and other procedures in light of recent
events in Abyei. This includes revisiting previous assessments of risks to security and
identifying gaps or concerns that may have been overlooked. Sector II Force Protection
has already carried out an assessment of UN agency compounds in Wau town in order to
be prepared for any outbreak of hostilities and the Security Section is updating
Emergency and Evacuation Plans in order to increase the Sector’s preparedness.

Security overview
At the beginning of April 2008, UNMIS HoO led a mission to Raga and Aweil, during
which a number of security issues were highlighted. These security issues were
specifically highlighted in order for UNMIS in the Sector to prepare for and be prepared
for any increase in tensions, especially in potential flashpoint locations. The delegation
met with local authorities and representatives in Raga, including the County
Commissioner, H.E. Rizik Zacharia and identified the following as security concerns in
order of importance and potential risk:

• The western border area around Kafia Kingi/Hufr an-Nahas

• The western part of Timsah payam, centred on Firga and the route northwards to South
Darfur State
• SPLA troop deployments
• Boro Medina
• Ambororo, Rizeigat and other migrations

Kafia Kingi and Hufr an-Nahas

The border issue in this area has been simmering for years. After the Addis Ababa
Agreement in 1972, which brought the first civil war to a close, Kafia Kingi was
supposed to be returned to the administration of the south, under Raga. However, this
part of the agreement was never implemented. The issue of the borders covered by the
CPA are also long due for resolution. UNMIS UNMOs have received repeated reports of
SAF troops increasing along this border, but due to the border’s remote and inaccessible
location and the fact that Kafia Kingi is currently still considered to be outside the Sector
II AOR, verification of these reports have not been possible. UNMIS’s knowledge of and
information about the area is still lacking in substance or first hand experience. Kafia
Kingi is under the administration of South Darfur and is therefore in the AOR of
UNAMID. The risk factor in this case must be considered to be high.

Timsah Payam
Some parts of western Timsah Payam are not fully under the control of the Payam
Administration, especially around Firga and areas to the west. In addition, the continuing
presence of the former OAG al-Fursan in Timsah is considered by the Payam authorities
to be a security risk, which requires an early resolution. The western part of the Payam is
inaccessible and remote for UNMIS and reports that it is used as an area for illicit
trafficking of drugs and the smuggling of contraband such as ivory and animal skins,
cannot be verified. Raga County Administration has only a tenuous control over the area
and arms apparently proliferate. The area must be considered to be an area of possible
high security risk should the Administration be unable to impose control over it.

SPLA troop movements

Two brigades of SPLA were stationed in Bisellia from mid-2007 as they had not been
able to proceed on to Raga County because of the wet season and being unable to cross
the various rivers. The brigades finally deployed westwards in February/March 2008 and
one is currently stationed at Soppo, south-east of Raga and the remainder are deployed in
Raga, Timsah and Boro Medina. The main concern regarding the deployment of these
troops pertains to the objective of the deployment. It is possible that the movement is the
SPLA’s response to the reported build-up of SAF troops in Kafia Kingi and this could
trigger an escalation of tension on the border in a similar way as occurred in Abyei with
the build-up of SAF 31st Brigade. UNMIS considers this a high risk as mentioned above.

However, concerns also exists over the presence of large numbers of military forces
within civilian communities and the effect on the protection of civilians and the access to
scarce resources such as water. The military have also set up check-points at various
locations where taxes are levied on trucks, cars, motorbikes and even bicycles. This
practice obviously has a negative effect on local communities, but also violates people’s
freedom of movement. These concerns can be considered a low to medium risk, but
taking into consideration the border issues and any long-term presence of the military this
risk could increase over time.

Boro Medina
The town and area of Boro Medina has become a centre for IDPs escaping the current
conflict in Darfur. Currently, there are just over 1,800 IDPs verified in the area and
receiving assistance form WFP. Currently there are few concerns regarding the number
of IDPs and their relations with the host communities. However, NGOs did express some
concerns regarding the increasing presence of SPLA troops in the area, especially when
they occupied a school and began to monopolise the only hand pump in the area which
had been mainly used by the IDPs. At present, the security risk is considered low, but it
could increase if fighting intensifies in Southern South Darfur, displacing more people, or
if security deteriorates around Kafia Kingi and the border, creating more displacement. In
addition, the long-term presence of SPLA troops in the area could also threaten to
increase the risk of human rights abuses and they become a threat to the protection of
civilians.

Ambororo, Rizeigat and other migrations

The migration of Ambororo cattle herders through Western Bahr el-Ghazal and other
areas of Sudan has been a concern for UNMIS and State authorities for a number of
reasons. The Ambororo are viewed with some suspicion by the inhabitants of the areas
through which they pass and there have been incidents whereby communities have come
into conflict with the nomads. Usually these incidents are relatively minor involving
access to water resources and the passage of cattle through fields under cultivation. Other
incidents cited have been the destruction of bee hives by the nomads when they try to
harvest the honey, normally harvested by local communities in such a way that the bees
are not killed.

Communities are also suspicious of the Ambororo because they are often armed and
often are identified as coming from northern Sudan, therefore possibly having an
intelligence gathering agenda of some kind. The Rizeigat are also cattle herders who
migrate into Western Bahr el-Ghazal during the dry season with their cattle. In the past
they have been well armed, but, this year, unlike their cousins, the Misriyya, they made
an agreement with the authorities to travel with minimal arms. So far, this agreement
appears to have held and there have been very few reports of Rizeigat involvement in
insecurity in the area. In terms of security threats, these groups are considered to present
a low security risk in the State.